Chapter 21: Answer it, and make him call you Auntie.

Yun Chuxia pursed her lips, her face turning crimson. The candy in her mouth had yet to dissolve, but she felt a flicker of annoyance. Si Yuchuan was clearly playing with her.

She glared at him with her beautiful eyes and retorted, "I did not." With that, she swung her hand away and headed toward the stairs.

Si Yuchuan pulled her back, locking her tightly in his arms. Her white sweater was soft and pleasant to hold. Even her annoyed expression was vivid and charming, making one want to tease her and then coax her back.

Yun Chuxia glared at him. Si Yuchuan’s brow bone was prominent, and his deep-set eyes always seemed to carry a hint of affection when he looked at someone. It created the illusion that he was in love with her. *This must be what they mean by saying someone looks affectionate even when staring at a telephone pole,* she thought.

Si Yuchuan’s lips curled slightly, and he murmured coaxingly, "Alright, it was me who wanted to kiss you."

The blush on Yun Chuxia’s face, which had just begun to fade, flared up again. The moment the candy fully dissolved, his lips pressed against hers. The sweetness was shared, accompanied by the racing of her heart.

Something felt wrong.

Yun Chuxia was a bit dazed. Although this wasn't their first kiss, the deer in her heart was leaping frantically, leaving her feeling flustered. What exactly was Si Yuchuan’s purpose in marrying her? If she truly fell for him, how would she face the divorce in a year?

The ringing of her phone saved her. She pushed away Si Yuchuan, who wanted to continue, and picked up the phone she had tossed onto the sofa. The screen displayed [Si Haochen].

Si Yuchuan’s cold gaze swept over the screen, and Yun Chuxia felt a chill run down the back of her neck. Her fingers moved swiftly; she rejected the call and blocked the number in one smooth motion.

She then explained, "Sorry, I forgot to block that number."

Si Yuchuan gave a soft, cynical laugh. "You should have answered. Let him call you 'Little Aunt'."

"..." Yun Chuxia couldn't decipher his true intentions. "You don't mind?"

Si Yuchuan tucked his hands into his pockets and took two steps to sit on the sofa, crossing his long legs. "Him? Not worth it."

Yun Chuxia recalled the comments about him online, describing him as someone who "feared nothing." Could it be that he truly didn't mind that she was his nephew's ex-girlfriend?

"Come here."

Si Yuchuan pulled her to sit beside him. Yun Chuxia’s thoughts were easy to read, and after a moment of reflection, he felt it necessary to say a few more words to her.

"A breakup is a breakup. There is no need to keep labeling yourself as someone's ex-girlfriend. You are free," Si Yuchuan said, stroking her soft hair. "The world imposes enough constraints already; don't add to them yourself."

Yun Chuxia felt a warmth spread through her heart. Ever since her name became linked with Si Haochen, her identity had been defined as Si Haochen’s girlfriend, his fiancée, or his abandoned ex. Over time, she had grown accustomed to placing herself within these labels. She had forgotten that she also possessed agency and the power to choose.

She hadn't expected these words to come from Si Yuchuan, and she looked at him, feeling moved. Though she often felt she couldn't see through him or understand his true thoughts, she had to admit that he was genuinely helping her.

The Yun family wouldn't let her work, and Si Haochen had known her situation for those three years. Had he spoken up, the Yun family wouldn't have dared to refuse him. Instead, he had agreed with Yun Hongbin’s view: "A girl should enjoy her life at home; don't be ungrateful for the blessings you have."

It was control masquerading as good fortune—a life she had never wanted.

Si Yuchuan met her gaze; her eyes, clear as autumn water and sparkling with light, were enough to make anyone’s heart soften. Suddenly, he seemed to understand why Si Haochen had wanted to hide her away.

He shifted the conversation, "However, things are different now that we are married..."

Yun Chuxia grabbed his arm with both hands. "I have something to tell you."